HPU TRACK: Panthers Combine For Seven Event Wins At Gene Anderson Invite

*** both men’s and women’s recaps included ***

Panther Men Return to Action In Chapel Hill
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – After a five-week hiatus, High Point University track and field returned to action this Friday, taking part in the UNC-hosted Gene Anderson Invite in Chapel Hill. The Panther men claimed four event wins overall, while a number of HPU athletes set new personal bests.

“When all the pieces are together it’s going to look much differently next week, but by and large I was very pleased,” said Head Coach Mike Esposito. “I love my staff, love the kids, and I’m glad that they’re back.”

With all field events taking place at 4 p.m., HPU’s first big performance of the day would come from freshman Daniel Bogle over in the sand pit. After recording a 6.71m in the long jump to open the indoor season, Bogle came back with a mark of 6.87m inside Eddie Smith Field House on Friday to finish ahead of the field. Max Shirikjian improved on his own long jump performance from earlier this season, recording a leap of 6.18m in the same event.

On the track, the purple & white registered multiple PRs in the hurdles, led by a third-place finish from Pablo Romero. Romero set his personal best in the final of the event, crossing the finish line in 8.49. Gabriel Stainback (8.65), Brad Kanney (9.66) and John Singleton (10.48) all set 60m hurdle PRs themselves.

Stainback would have a big day over in the pole vault as well, besting his previous personal record by .20 meters at 3.95m. Teammate Jordan McClung would ultimately come in first among competing collegiates, with he and Zane Griffith both clearing 4.55m on the day. The two High Point vaulters trailed only their own coach for the top mark on the afternoon, as Assistant Coach Scott Houston set a facility record (5.46m), while competing unattached.

Bobby Dupell III earned the third event win of the afternoon, running a 51.55 in the 400m during his first meet in a Panthers uniform. The freshman would play a part in the final competition of the afternoon as well, joining Bogle, Romero and Levi Williams to take first in the 4x400m, and close out the evening with a victory.

“The level of competition will go up significantly [at next week’s VMI Keydet Invite],” said Esposito. “We’ll get to see Hampton next week at VMI and we’ll get to see some better teams where our kids aren’t just going to advance through, they’re going to have to earn their way through.”


HPU Women Continue Indoor Season At UNC
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – After a five-week hiatus, High Point University track and field returned to action this Friday, taking part in the UNC-hosted Gene Anderson Invite in Chapel Hill. The Panther women had a big day on the track with multiple sprinters landing among the top performers at this weekend’s competition.

“When all the pieces are together it’s going to look much differently next week, but by and large I was very pleased,” said Head Coach Mike Esposito. “I love my staff, love the kids, and I’m glad that they’re back.”

Freshman Leah Bolden and Nyile Facey both recorded wins on the day, with the former tying the 7.73 in the 60m dash she set in Winston-Salem the previous month. Bolden would go on to run a 7.74 in the final to beat the field by more than a full stride at the finish line. Facey improved on her own 60m hurdle time with a 6.22 in the prelim, only to outdo herself in the final with a 9.15 first-place finish.

Fellow freshman Lexi Crompton came in third in the hurdles with a time of 9.34 while Madison Reynolds and Charlotte Morrow each posted PRs at 9.50 and 10.63 respectively. Morrow would tie her personal best over in the high jump as well, clearing a height of 1.55m for third overall.

It was another successful day on the pole vault as well for the Panthers, as the purple & white claimed two of the top-three university-attached spots in the event. Jessica Keys posted the top finish among collegiate vaulters after tying her indoor PR at 3.50m, followed closely by teammate Rachel Berndsen at 3.35m.

Lucy Clayton ran to fifth among collegiates in the one mile, recording a personal record of 5:26.06, while the combination of Bolden, Facey, Taylor Arthur and Emmy Geis combined for a second-place standing in the 4x400m to cap off the afternoon (4:08.23).

“The level of competition will go up significantly [at next week’s VMI Keydet Invite],” said Esposito. “We’ll get to see Hampton next week at VMI and we’ll get to see some better teams where our kids aren’t just going to advance through, they’re going to have to earn their way through.”


MALE TOP PERFORMERS
60m Dash
7. Paul Gore (6.97)
11. Levi Williams (7.17)

400m
1. Bobby Dupell III (51.55)

60m Hurdles
3. Pablo Romero (8.49) – PR
9. Brad Kanny (9.66) – PR
6. Gabriel Stainback (8.65P) – PR
11. John Singleton (10.48)

Weight Throw
2. Britton Mann (14.15m)

Long Jump
1. Daniel Bogle (6.87m)
7. Max Shirikjian (6.18m)

Pole Vault
1. Jordan McClung (4.55m)
2. Zane Griffith (4.55m)
3. Pablo Romero (4.10m)
6. Gabriel Stainback (3.95m) – PR

4x400m Relay
1. Romero/Dupell/Bogle/Williams (3:30.74)


FEMALE TOP PERFORMERS
60m Dash
1. Leah Bolden (7.73P & 7.74F)

60m Hurdles
1. Nyile Facey (9.15)
3. Lexi Crompton (9.34)
4. Madison Reynolds (9.50) – PR
7. Charlotte Morrow (10.63) – PR

One Mile
5. Lucy Clayton (5:26.06) – PR

High Jump
3. Charlotte Morrow (1.55m) – Tied PR

Pole Vault
1. Jessica Keys (3.50m)
2. Rachel Berndsen (3.35m)

4x400m Relay
2. Arthur/Bolden/Facey/Geis

Coming Up Next
Pole vaulter Carter Clasper will represent High Point at Saturday’s Virginia Tech Invitational, while the rest of the men’s side prepares for next weekend’s trip to the VMI Keydet Invite in Lexington.